A Legacy of Care: How AIDS Resource Evolved From Hospice Support to Lifelong Community Health

• Asia Tabb
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  Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF’s The Spark.
  
  She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on “The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for “Unrestricted Praise” at Praise FM.
  
  Previously she was an anchor in Shreveport, Louisiana at KTAL/KMSS. Asia also worked as a Multi-Media Journalist at WHP-TV here in Harrisburg, PA.
  
  Asia got her break into news at KTVO in Ottumwa, Ia. While the 2020 caucuses were gearing up. Asia followed many candidates through their campaign trail from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and 46th President of the United States Joe Biden.
  
  Asia was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a major in Communications.
  
  Asia is extremely friendly so don’t be afraid to say hi if you see her out and about.

Hands up silhouette icon vector. AIDS Day Poster, December 1. Important day

AIRED; December 12, 2025

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AIDS Resource has come a long way since its founding in 1988, when stigma was widespread and treatment options were limited. Interim CEO Kirsten Burkhart says her connection to the organization began long before she ever worked there. “I had a friend who passed away from HIV-related causes… he ended up essentially dying alone,” she recalls. “I felt really guilty that I didn’t do more… and so I was kind of drawn to this field because of that.” What began as a deeply personal loss later grew into a 25-year career centered on compassion, advocacy, and expanding access to care.

In its early days, AIDS Resource operated much like hospice care, focused on helping people “die with dignity,” Burkhart explains. Support meant getting clients to medical appointments, offering emotional care when families pulled away, and ensuring “people felt supported in their last moments.” But the story didn’t end there. As treatments improved, the organization’s mission transformed dramatically. “Those treatments have evolved significantly,” she says. “People who are diagnosed early and get on and stay on treatments have essentially the same lifespan as somebody who isn’t HIV positive.” That medical progress required AIDS Resource to shift from end-of-life care to long-term support, building programs that meet the needs of clients who now live full, healthy lives.

Today, AIDS Resource serves ten largely rural counties—far beyond its original single-county reach. The expansion was driven by necessity, Burkhart explains: “Every county needs to have a provider, and we were poised to be able to provide those services.” For her, witnessing the transformation of care and the resilience of the community remains the most powerful part of her work. “What stands out the most to me is how much the treatments have evolved and what that means for our clients,” she says. The organization’s growth reflects a broader shift—from crisis response to long-term health and dignity, ensuring that no one in their region faces HIV alone.